The emails that reveal what was really going on between Britain and Sweden in the Julian Assange case

Documents released under Freedom of Information requests to Italian magazine La Repubblica confirm the very close relationship between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Sweden in the Julian Assange case. The files contain hundreds of mostly redacted emails sent over a five-year period. But according to one authoritative source, the number of CPS documents relating to the case may be much greater than has so far been disclosed.

In May 2017, the Swedish authorities announced they had ceased all remaining investigations into alleged sexual assault by WikiLeaks founder Assange. But the Metropolitan Police arrest warrant for skipping bail would remain in force. Subsequently, Assange’s legal team sought a ruling that the Met warrant should be rescinded, but the court ruled otherwise.

Start your day with The Canary News Digest

Fresh and fearless; get excellent independent journalism from The Canary, delivered straight to your inbox every morning.

Email Address

First name

Last name

Mobile number (optional)

Chief Magistrate hearing the Assange case: Baroness Emma Arbuthot, married to Baron Arbuthot, former British Conservative Party MP & Chairman of the Defence Select Committee. Yes of course the judiciary is completely independent in the UK. https://t.co/zSxpnoildL

we have found us to be obliged to consider to lift the detention order… and to withdraw the European arrest warrant. If so this should be done in a couple of weeks. This would affect not only us but you too in a significant way.

US targeting Assange

In the meantime, Assange remains in the Ecuadorian Embassy because he suspects the US has a sealed indictment for his prosecution. In a 2013 affidavit, Assange even stated the grand jury case number:

In Alexandria, Virginia, a Grand Jury has been empanelled for the past three years to explore ways to prosecute WikiLeaks for its publishing work. It has identified seven civilians, including the “founders, owners or managers of WikiLeaks”. The Grand Jury’s case number is 10GJ3793.

And the late Michael Ratner, Assange’s US lawyer, was certain about the most likely charge:

[T]he Grand Jury’s number is 10, standing for the year it began, GJ which is Grand Jury and then 3793. Three is the Conspiracy Statute in the United States. 793 is the Espionage Statute. So what they’re investigating is 3793: conspiracy to commit espionage.

Indeed, US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has called Assange’s arrest a “priority”. CIA director Mike Pompeo, meanwhile, said the agency was working to “take down” WikiLeaks. And former FBI director James Comey told Congress that the only reason Assange had not been apprehended was because he is still in the Ecuadorian Embassy.

“Scandalous”

In a July 2012 email to Ny and others (names redacted), the sender describes [pdf, p3] how the Assange files (“A-related” emails) are organised:

Marianne and I file all A-related emails in special folders, not available to or traceable for anybody but ourselves.

In a recent audio interview, award-winning journalist John Pilger goes further, saying he believes Assange was “set up”, and describing the CPS emails as “scandalous”.

The CPS has admitted that it destroyed key emails relating to the Assange case. Indeed, in advance of the recent court hearing, the CPS wrote to La Repubblica,saying:

all the data associated with Paul Close’s account was deleted when he retired and cannot be recovered.

More to come?

The CPS has disclosed some material which is very limited. We know there is more.

The CPS declined to comment to The Canary on whether the emails suggest its relationship with the SPA was inappropriately close. When asked whether there were additional emails, and whether unredacted versions would be released, the CPS told The Canary:

You would have to make an FOI request. Some text is usually redacted to ensure any releases under the FOI Act does not breach legislation including around data protection and security.

The full CPS file on Assange is estimated to contain between 7,200 and 9,600 pages. Meanwhile, Gareth Peirce, Assange’s solicitor, is considering an appeal against the latest ruling. Should that go ahead, no doubt she and the rest of Assange’s legal team will want to see those documents, as well as unredacted versions of the CPS/SPA emails already available, including the heavily-redacted 2014-15 correspondence [pdf].

Since you're here ...

We know you don't need a lecture. You wouldn't be here if you didn't care.
Now, more than ever, we need your help to challenge the rightwing press and hold power to account. Please help us survive and thrive.

This site

This website uses cookies

We, and our partners, set cookies and collect information from your browser to provide you with website content, deliver relevant advertising and understand web audiences. See our privacy policy to learn more about how we manage your data and your rights. See our cookie consent policy to understand how we use cookies and tracking technology. To agree to our use of cookies, click "Accept".